The Malia Earwarmer

November 7, 2017

Disclosure: This page may contain affiliate links which help me cover the cost of publishing my blog. Should you choose to make a purchase, at no additional cost to you, I will be given a small percentage of the sale.

Share It:

This pattern is part of the Fall 2017 Malia CAL (Crochet-Along). To view the other patterns in this collection (including a beanie, slouch, cowl and infinity scarf), please visit the Malia CAL Homepage.

When you want to wear your hair up, but you still want to keep your ears warm, it’s time to grab an earwarmer! This quick pattern is one of the simplest of the Malia collection and you’ll be able to crochet it up in no time.

If you need a little help with the stitches, check out the tutorial video I made for the cowl and scarf; just use the numbers in this pattern instead of the ones called for on the video! Or, scroll down to find the written pattern.

Free Printable Tags

I made some cute printable tags for this pattern that you are welcome to use! If you’re selling or gifting this earwarmer, a tag or wrap just ups the professionalism, in my opinion. I included a wraparound label (shown in the photo) as well as a smaller tag that can be attached to a piece of decorative string wrapped around your finished product, by punching a hole through the corner and threading the string through before tying a bow to secure. Print on cardstock for best results!

Pattern Permissions

This is a FREE pattern, and by using it, you're agreeing to the following legally-protected conditions.
You're welcome to sell what you make with it; for online listings, please link back to my blog using something like this:

Pattern by
Little Monkeys Crochet
littlemonkeyscrochet.com

Here are the “do nots”:

Do not resell the pattern, altered or in its original form.

Do not copy and paste the pattern onto your own blog, in a Facebook group, or anywhere else. Simply link to this page instead. Anything beyond this is copyright theft, regardless of what your pattern-sharing buddies tell you. 🙂

Do not pull any of my photos from this site (or any of my other sites) for your own use. The exception to this is if you want to share my article link(s) on your own blog; in this case, you are welcome to take one photo per post for use on your site as long as it is accompanied by a direct link back to my post.

A NOTE ABOUT PRINTING: My patterns no longer show up when accessed via PrintFriendly.com. (This is out of my control; please see my FAQs for more info.) If you wish to print this pattern (for personal use only), you can copy & paste it into a text editing document, or purchase the inexpensive PDF (see pattern info, below).

Gauge: To ensure the best results, the gauge check is a swatch taken straight from the pattern. Upon completion, you should have a 4” square. If yours is larger, consider using a smaller hook or a thinner #4 yarn. If yours is smaller, consider using a larger hook.

Pattern for Gauge:CH17. Row 1: SC in 2nd CH from hook and in each remaining CH. (16) Row 2: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. (SK next ST, LBS in next ST) 7 times. SC in final ST. (16) Row 3: CH1, turn. HDC in each ST across. (16) Row 4: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in 3rd loop of each of the next 14 STS. SC in final ST. (16) Row 5: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (16) Row 6: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. (LBS in next ST, SK next ST) 7 times. SC in final ST. (16) Row 7: CH1, turn. HDC in each ST across. (16) Row 8: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in 3rd loop of each of the next 14 STS. SC in final ST. (16) Row 9: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (16) Rows 10-16: Repeat Rows 2-8. (16)

Foundation Half Double Crochet (FHDC)This is the recommended way of beginning the pattern and is better shown than explained, so please watch the included tutorial video as a guide. There is also an optional classic chain start noted in the pattern, if you would like to do that instead.

Large Bean Stitch (LBS)Insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull through (2 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into same stitch, yarn over and pull through (4 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into same stitch, yarn over and pull through (6 loops on hook). Yarn over, insert hook into same stitch, yarn over and pull through (8 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 8 loops. Chain 1 to close the stitch. (Because this stitch creates two sets of loops - one when creating the bean, and one when closing the stitch - each completed Large Bean Stitch will count for two stitches in the row or round's final stitch count.)

3rd Loop OnlyHalf double crochet stitches have a 3rd loop that we utilize in this pattern. When working in turned rows, as in this pattern, the 3rd loop can be found just below the front loop on the side of the work that is facing you. When instructed to work in "3rd loop only", insert your hook into this special loop. This creates a delicate braided look on the opposite side of the pattern.

Notes:(1) This pattern is written in American Standard Terms. (2) CH1s at the beginning of rows do not count as a stitch in the final stitch count.(3) A video tutorial for the stitch pattern is available up in the post, or by clicking here.(4) To make earwarmer larger or smaller, add or subtract an even number of stitches from the starting row or chain. For reference, if you met gauge, 4 stitches = 1".

INSTRUCTIONS

Row 2: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in 3rd loop of each of the next 76 STS. SC in final ST. (78)

Row 3: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (78)

Row 4: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. (SK next ST, LBS in next ST) 38 times. SC in final ST. (78)

Row 5: CH1, turn. HDC in each ST across. (78)

Row 6: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in 3rd loop of each of the next 76 STS. SC in final ST. (78)

Row 7: CH1, turn. SC in each ST across. (78)

Row 8: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. (LBS in next ST, SK next ST) 38 times. SC in final ST. (78)

Row 9: CH1, turn. HDC in each ST across. (78)

Row 10: CH1, turn. SC in first ST. SC in 3rd loop of each of the next 76 STS. SC in final ST. (78)

Edging: CH1, SC in same ST to round corner. Working down the short edge of the earwarmer, SC in each row (10). Ch1 to round corner. SC in each ST across long edge of earwarmer. CH1 to round corner. SC in each row of next short edge. CH1 to round corner. SC in each ST across remaining long edge. Ch1. Join with a SL ST to the first SC of the edging. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Buttons: Overlap one short edge over the other by about 1". Pin in place if needed. Attach buttons at top, bottom, and center, sewing through both layers to hold earwarmer together.

Done! If you're sharing on social media, be sure to hashtag #maliacal and #maliaearwarmer and tag me @littlemonkeyscrochet. Hope you enjoyed it!

Pattern Permissions

This is a FREE pattern, and by using it, you’re agreeing to the following legally-protected conditions.

You’re welcome to sell what you make with it; for online listings, please link back to my blog using something like this:

Pattern by
Little Monkeys Crochet
littlemonkeyscrochet.com

Here are the “do nots”:

Do not resell the pattern, altered or in its original form.

Do not copy and paste the pattern onto your own blog, in a Facebook group, or anywhere else. Simply link to this page instead. Anything beyond this is copyright theft. You are welcome to copy/paste it into a document for printing, for personal use only.

Do not pull any of my photos from this site (or any of my other sites) to promote yourself or your crochet business on your own blog, Facebook page, or anywhere else. The exception to this is if you want to share my article link(s) on your own blog; in this case, you are welcome to take one photo per post for use on your site as long as it is accompanied by a direct link back to my post and does not include any portion of the pattern itself.

Do not post a translation of the pattern anywhere – this is copyright theft. If you would like to help make a translation available, I am happy to publish it on my blog with a link to your blog or Crochet-related Facebook page.

Do not make a video tutorial of this pattern (or any of my patterns). For a detailed explanation of why this hurts designers, please contact me.

I welcome all comments and questions as long as they are spoken with kindness, and I will always try to extend the same respect to you with my replies. If I feel your comment is inappropriate or unnecessarily hurtful, it may be deleted at my discretion.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: I’ve just given birth to my 3rd little monkey, a baby boy named Henry James, on 12/28/16. I may be slow at responding to messages and greatly appreciate your patience during this time of transition. I’m not disappearing, but I may not be able to help you as quickly as you need it. – Rebecca 🙂

I am making infinity scarves for Christmas presents and thought it’d be nice to give them a matching ear warmer or messy bun hat, or something. For the scarves, I’m using a bulky yarn. If I want to make your ear warmer, what changes do I need to make in the pattern? I’m not a total newbie, but I’m a pattern follower =) so I’m not comfortable figuring out how to adapt your pattern to my yarn.

If you have other ear warmer patterns using a bulky yarn, you can just refer me to those. =)

Hi Carla! For this pattern, it’s pretty simple. Just choose a hook size that you think works best for your yarn. Then in the instructions, where it says “FHDC 78″, you just FHDC until it measures about 18” long (it will stretch). Be sure you FHDC an even number (or if you’re using the alternate start and chaining, make sure it’s an odd number of chains), and you’ll be good. Then simply follow the pattern, knowing that the new row total will be however many FHDCs you did. With bulky yarn, you can decide how many rows you do before it gets wide enough for your taste. Hope that helps 🙂

This pattern is terrific! I’ve made 5 so far and this pattern is really pretty and works up well! It’s a great gift for granddaughters, friends, etc. I’m so glad I purchased the all access pass too as it makes it super easy to print out the patterns I want to make.
Thank you so much for sharing these patterns – they are really wonderful! Thanks too for suggesting the gauge square as mine was too big and I went down one needle size and it is perfect!

I am having such a problem meeting gauge. It seems that no matter which aran yarn I use I’m getting at least a 5-5.5″ square. Yarn Bee yarn is not sold in any of the yarn stores near me, but I’ve tried Vanna’s Choice solids, Caron, Caron simply soft, Red Heart, and Red Heart with love. The only time I came close to meeting gauge was going down 3 hook sizes, but the fabric was too dense. I’m an experienced crocheter, although I am new to the bean stitch, but cannot figure out why my gauge is off. Any ideas?

This has been the great mystery of this crochet-along, as quite a handful of people are running into the same problem. (I actually thought I’d lost my own mind for a while there, but even 2 months later, I still sit down to make this pattern and come up with my original gauge.) All that said — if you were working on one of the hats, I would recommend choosing a thinner yarn. But since you’re doing the ear warmer, you can simply work the first row or chain until it is as long as you want it to be – just make sure that if you start with an FHDC, you do an even number, and if you start with a chain, you chain an odd number. The pattern will work fine 🙂

I feel a little better knowing I’m not alone! I was making myself crazy trying to meet the gauge. Thanks for the input for making the ear warmer. I adore the stitch pattern for these projects and absolutely want to make the set both for myself and as gifts. I’ll work on everything but the hats for now. Thanks again!

YES!! Thank you!!! I’ve changed hook sizes to the point that the hook is almost too small for my yarn (Lion Brand Heartland). I’ll just keep at it. I thought I was a tight crocheter, until this project! I’ve gone from a J to an I, to an H, and my last one was a G (4.0mm). I’m going to shoot the gap and try a 4.5mm, and I’m going to stick with that and hope for the best! It’s for me, anyway, so it’ll be a good experiment 😬

I'm Rebecca, a wife, mom, and tryer-of-new-crafty-things. I love to crochet, and I try to design patterns that the younger generations will love to make and love to wear. You can get to know me a little more here!